Lost and found pets

Helping reunite pets and their owners.

What to do if you’ve lost or found an animal

We know how heartbreaking it can be when a beloved pet goes missing. That’s why we work closely with South Australian councils and animal welfare groups to reunite as many lost or stray animals with their owners as possible.

The good news our lost and found team at RSPCA South Australia manages to successfully reunite hundreds of animals with their families each year.

Lost a pet or found one?

Lost and found FAQs

How do I find out what lost pets have come into RSPCA South Australia’s care?

First, view our online database of found animals. You can also contact our shelters here. We would suggest checking with your local shelter and any others that are in your region as animals can sometimes travel great distances.

If RSPCA South Australia does not have my lost pet, where else can I look?

If your animal is not in our care, we suggest contacting all the local pounds, shelters and veterinarians in your area. You can also check the many online Facebook groups for missing and found pets.

It’s very important to update your pet’s microchip record to reflect that he is missing. You could also consider posting notices around your neighbourhood and in your local newspaper.

Even if you do not find your animal immediately, it’s important to search regularly in case your pet is found at a later date.

Can I come to your shelters to look for my lost pet?

We would suggest viewing our online database and phoning your local RSPCA shelter before visiting us. All animals currently in RSPCA South Australia’s care who have come in as lost or strays are entered into our system so if you animal is in our care, our team will have records of this.

You are welcome to come to our shelters and speak to our staff during opening hours. You can find your local RSPCA South Australia shelter here.

Can I leave my pet’s information with RSPCA South Australia so I can be contacted if they end up in your care?

We are currently only able to crosscheck lost pets against our database using microchip numbers. If your pet is microchipped, please fill out our lost pets form so our team can enter your pet’s microchip number into our database. If an animal with the same number is currently in one of our shelters, or comes into our care, we will contact you.

The Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organisation (AMWRRO), a dedicated marine wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisation. AMWRRO is South Australia’s only organisation licensed to rescue, rehabilitate and release all seals, all seabirds and all sea turtle species. They also work closely with other departments to rescue and release dolphin and whale species found entangled or beached.

If you find a native animal in distress, please call our 24-hour hotline on 1300 4 777 22, and we will connect you to the best organisation to help.